Binghamton University students honor the memories of 6 hostages killed in Gaza

VESTAL (WBNG) — The Jewish community at Binghamton University held a march and vigil on Wednesday to honor the lives of six hostages found dead in Gaza.

Among the hostages killed was 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

President of the Binghamton University Zionist Organization Adira Greenwald shared a personal connection with his family.

“His sister was in my seventh-grade class when I lived in Jerusalem for the year,” said Greenwald. “To not have that person return after days and days of praying and fighting was absolutely heartbreaking.”

Greenwald said the news of his death pushed her to host this march and vigil, to honor not only Goldberg-Polin but all hostages, including Binghamton University student Omer Neutra. He remains held in captivity by Hamas and his friends and family said they wish he could have come back to campus for the new school year.

“He should really be here with us at this point,” said Eytan Saegner, a student on campus. “I see people throwing a football, he should be able to toss around a football with us. It is our hope that he will be released.”

The event attracted more than a hundred students and supporters, Jewish and non-Jewish. During the march, the students made six stops at various points on campus reading small obituaries for the hostages.

An emotional vigil followed the march, marked by prayers, a candlelight ceremony, personal stories and symbolic Jewish songs.

With a united voice, those at the event had this message for Neutra and all other hostages.

“We love you. We’re here for you. We support you,” said President of Chabad at Binghamton University Michal Levine. “We’re here fighting both in Binghamton and around the world, and we will never forget you.”

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